Bowling is fun... even when you lose

I suggested bowling as a fun filled activity to hang out with a few friends. Bowling is always a great time, you get to trash talk a little, lots of high five moments and let's not forget about the stylish bowling shoes you get to sport. I should have taken a hint from the first frame that things were not going to go my way. Two gutter balls, not one single pin would accept defeat and fall down from shear intimidation of the ball I had hurled at less than 20 km/h down the lane.

The others were having a great time, the former gentleman is king of the spares and the other male there was a master of the strike while his lady friend was keeping pace with them and performing very well. If it were not for the strike I pulled out of nowhere near the end of the game I would have cried a little on the inside, but at the end my poor score was only 60. That is by far the worst game I have ever bowled in my life. It was not pointed out until the second game that I was apparently the ball incorrectly by not using my two middle fingers in the holes while the other two guide the ball. Low and behold my second game improved. Still not ideal but I did finish with 87 and that is much more acceptable than 60.

The end of the first game brought on a reflection of my bowling days in the town I grew up in. There was not much to do and in middle school my mother had sent us to the bowling league after school. It was only 5 pin which I actually prefer now that I have been 10 pin so many times. I was never any good at bowling, let's just clarify that right off the bat. I am the bowler that got the "best improved bowler" badge at recognition night because I never hit 100 and they have to give everybody something. After all, these leagues cant tell middle school kids that they suck. I got the "heart and soul" in swim club to for much the same  reason. At least I now feel like I was always included.

In trying to find the image above I did stumble across some bowler etiquette that will help you in your next bowling game:
- If you and the bowler in the lane next to you go to bowl at the same time, the bowler on the left has the right of way.
- Pay attention and be ready to bowl when it is your turn (I would have done better than 87 but missed the last frame since the former gentleman was spaced out)
- Don't touch other peoples balls, it is disrespectful
- Don't make unnecessary ball jokes, it is distasteful apparently
- Be a good sport!

Happy bowling!